City v Arsenal post match thread

[BlueAnorak]

It does happen!

It does indeed happen. My point is I would have expected him to score from that position. Navas had a similar opportunity but I didn't have much hope for that one.
The overall point being that although the defence was a complete shambles we could/should have got at least a draw.

 

[Saddleworth2]

This isn't a flap or a criticism, just a reflection of what I see in these early days. I think most of the focus so far has been getting the squad to learn how to play out from the back and to press more effectively when we are not in possession. You can see the difference he has made already albeit this is a long way from second nature to these players, hence the individual errors from players which will continue to happen for a while yet and will cost us goals (hopefully not too many). You could see the way that Kolorov and Fernando were sprinting into split positions to make themselves available with Dinho dropping back that they are following Peps coaching to the letter. Willie tried so hard to distribute well, even in tight positions - you could see Pep encouraging and applauding him when he tried this. Joe didn't which was surprising. Work rate has gone up and pressing looks more coordinated and effective. There were a couple of spells, in all the matches where our opposition has not been able to string two passes together. It needs to be more consistent for 90 minutes but the signs are encouraging. One of the things that has struck me in all the matches is the paucity of chances we are creating, apart from the last 5 minutes against Arsenal. I suspect that will come as the squad become more used to the methods and the ball is moved more quickly in attack. At the moment it looks too laboured and we really haven't got to grips with the fast diagonal balls that Pep likes. Kev made a difference when he came on with his speed of thought and I thought Navas was very good when he came on and would start him against Sunderland. So about where I thought we would be by now. I expect a few bumps in the first few games but the trajectory is good.

 

[mosssideblue]

Well it seems we agree then!

Im just confussed why txiki didnt have things more sorted for peps arrival. Signing players that can play his way over the last couple of seasons?

Within reason, and maybe he did. He had to ensure that whoever he bought, Pellers could get the best out of them too else we may have even struggled further

 

[pete1970]

It does indeed happen. My point is I would have expected him to score from that position. Navas had a similar opportunity but I didn't have much hope for that one.
The overall point being that although the defence was a complete shambles we could/should have got at least a draw.

Oh well
Roll on Saturday

 

[BlueAnorak]

It's clear Wenger have been allowing us possession of the ball while maintaining their shape for some seasons now.
If you take the last two defeats against Arsenal, the 1-2 loss at Emirates we had some 63% possession and in the 0-2 loss at Etihad, we had 65% possession.

Pep had better get used to it. Every team we play in the Prem will try the same trick.

 

[Craig]

It does indeed happen. My point is I would have expected him to score from that position. Navas had a similar opportunity but I didn't have much hope for that one.
The overall point being that although the defence was a complete shambles we could/should have got at least a draw.

We shouldn't have got a draw because Arsenal had 3 great chances first half. The result in a friendly is pretty irrelevant anyway it's about the performance and defensively we looked abysmal and not much better in central midfield when it came to keeping the ball and building from the back.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Bloody hell: so do I.

Ha, ha! Are you related to the OB1 previously citing me for worrying unnecessarily when I questioned the wisdom of purchasing 4 slightly built wingers (when what we needed - and still need - is 2 centre halves and a powerful, athletic defensive midfielder), and the potential consequences of trying to introduce a style of football to a squad with many component parts ill-suited to it? I think we should be told! ;-)

Seriously though, Pep will doubtless get it right in the long term, but I think this season could be a serious disappointment unless we can keep Kompany, Gundogan, Sane, Kun, Fernandinho and KDB fit and sharp throughout

 

[mosssideblue]

Honesty, based on the pre season, I wouldn't be at all upset to see Angus Gunn start in net against Sunderland. I'm not worried about Hart's mistakes, even if that left hand side is getting a bit ridiculous, but my worst fears about his inability to adapt to a passing game look pretty well founded and Willy doesn't look a whole lot better. Against most sides, our keeper will have the ball far more than he will have to do any traditional goalkeeping and I honestly think Gunn is the most suitable for doing that. He's been doing it week in, week out for the EDS for a couple of years and won't bat an eye at popping a short pass through the lines to a defender in a bit of space, whereas Joe doesn't seem to have the composure to do anything but lump it as far as he can. Maybe once he gets a bit more confidence he won't be so terrified of making a mistake, but I think it's probably far too late in his career to teach him to have composure on the ball.

Fair shout, although I would be surprised to see it

 

[BlueAnorak]

We shouldn't have got a draw because Arsenal had 3 great chances first half. The result in a friendly is pretty irrelevant anyway it's about the performance and defensively we looked abysmal and not much better in central midfield when it came to keeping the ball and building from the back.

If those are great chances then we had at least 3 or 4 ourselves I'm talking open goals. Which I'd expect Yaya to score a lot more than he'd miss and Navas to miss more than he scores

 

[Craig]

If those a great chances then we had at least 3 or 4 ourselves I'm talking open goals. Which I'd expect Yaya to score a lot more than he'd miss and Navas to miss more than he scores

They weren't open goals and Navas's was very missable but obviously it's Navas so we'll all say it was an absolute sitter. Arsed what we created anyway(which wasn't a great deal) defensively the new style and who's going to play there looks shambolic with a week to go and the central midfielders Yaya aside don't keep the ball well enough. Lots of work to do is what we learned and yes we will score goals still as usual.